harder in practice than in theory

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "harder in practice than in theory" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a situation or concept that is more challenging to implement or execute than it appears in a theoretical context. Example: "Many people believe that starting a business is easy, but it is often harder in practice than in theory."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Yet cutting contractors out of classified work is a lot harder in practice than in theory.

The New York Times

This has fired up interest, in Europe as well as America, in "macroprudential regulation": the notion that regulators must supplement "micro" supervision of individual firms by looking across entire markets and industries for risks that threaten the whole system.This is much harder in practice than in theory.

The Economist

Of course, for all the chaste codes of conduct, being good is a lot harder in practice than in theory.

Forbes

Murphy's Law and everyday life tell us that folks should just come to expect that everything is a lot harder in practice than in theory.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Canada often works better in practice than in theory.

The New Yorker

Totalitarianism, it turned out, was less total in practice than in theory.

The New York Times - Books

Achieving a balanced product portfolio appears to be more difficult in practice than in theory.

Harvard Business Review

"The theory of instant money and ability to turn viewers into money is harder in practice than it looks".

TechCrunch

It is harder in practice than it sounds.

Los Angeles Times

The trouble is that this is a much harder trick to pull off in practice than it looks in theory.

The Economist

Relations with France are always "better in practice than they are in theory," she added.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "harder in practice than in theory", ensure you provide specific examples or context to illustrate the practical difficulties. This will make your statement more persuasive and relatable to the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "harder in practice than in theory" as a blanket statement without providing any concrete examples. This can make your writing sound vague and unsubstantiated.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "harder in practice than in theory" functions as an idiomatic expression used to highlight the discrepancy between a concept's perceived simplicity and its actual difficulty when applied. Ludwig shows this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "harder in practice than in theory" is a common and grammatically sound English phrase used to express that implementing an idea or plan is often more difficult than it appears in the abstract. Ludwig's analysis shows that this phrase is valid and usable. This phrase appears across a range of contexts, from news and media to scientific discussions. When using this phrase, it is best to provide specific examples to support your statement and avoid overgeneralization. Alternatives include "more difficult in reality than in theory" and "easier said than done".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more difficult in reality than in theory

Focuses on the difficulty, emphasizing the practical reality versus abstract theory.

tougher to execute than conceptualize

Highlights the difference between executing a plan and simply thinking about it.

easier said than done

A common idiom emphasizing the difficulty of performing an action.

more challenging to implement than to plan

Stresses the challenge of implementation compared to the planning stage.

more complicated in application than in design

Emphasizes the complexity that arises when applying a design in the real world.

the rubber meets the road

An idiom indicating the point at which a theory is tested in practice.

faces practical hurdles

Highlights the practical obstacles that arise when trying to implement a plan.

actual implementation poses greater problems

Focuses on the problems that arise during actual implementation.

the devil is in the details

An idiom referring to unforeseen problems in the details of a plan.

reality is more complex than theory

Highlights the greater complexity of reality compared to simplified theories.

FAQs

How can I use "harder in practice than in theory" in a sentence?

You can use "harder in practice than in theory" to emphasize that something is more difficult to implement than it seems at first glance. For example, "Many people believe that starting a business is easy, but it is often "harder in practice than in theory"."

What's a good alternative to "harder in practice than in theory"?

Alternatives include phrases like "more difficult in reality than in theory", "easier said than done", or "tougher to execute than conceptualize".

Is it appropriate to use "harder in practice than in theory" in formal writing?

Yes, "harder in practice than in theory" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in formal writing, it's crucial to provide clear examples to support your claim.

What makes something "harder in practice than in theory"?

Often, unforeseen challenges, resource limitations, human factors, and complex real-world interactions contribute to making something "harder in practice than in theory". Theories often simplify situations, while practice introduces complexities.